Some watermarks are like flowing clouds in the sky, some watermarks are like streams rushing, and the whole umbrella surface looks down, it is a picture of the sky is high and the clouds are light, and the stream is murmuring. If you look closely, it seems that there are still people fishing by the stream?

Is such a delicate and beautiful painting a stroke of genius from nature, or is it the ingenuity of a craftsman?

Su Jinyao was stunned for a while, and couldn't help but think of the handsome little craftsman.

It seems that people are good-looking, and the things they make are quite strange, and I don't know which famous disciple they are from.

With such exquisite craftsmanship and this leisure (qíng), he is not a famous family and a noble son of a wealthy family.

But it will definitely not be the children of ordinary people's craftsmen, because ordinary people's food and clothing come first, they don't have that kind of elegance, and they don't have such a long-term artistic conception.

Because of the uniqueness of this umbrella, Su Jinyao glanced up from time to time while walking. After walking for a long time, Su Jinyao found that the special thing about this umbrella is that the amount of rain will make the umbrella surface form different patterns.

Although he was holding an umbrella in his hand, he seemed to be holding a kaleidoscope, which made Su Jinyao feel very interesting along the way.

Until the end, I wish the rain was heavier, or lighter, in short, the rain should not stop.

In this way, all the way to dusk, because it is always rainy weather, so you can only roughly judge the time.

There is a small town in front of it, and because of the day's rain (yīn), the town is not visible at this time.

Su Jinyao wasn't sure how far ahead she would have to go before there was a town, so Suo (xìng) decided to stay here for one night and leave again tomorrow.

It's not big, but it's not small. There are two inns on the main street not far from each other, one of which is a larger one, a small second-floor structure. However, the front hall on the first floor is a restaurant, and it is dinner time, so there are a few diners who are munching on the table inside.

Su Jinyao didn't like to see people eat ugly, so she walked forward, wanting to see how the slightly smaller inn was.

Fortunately, this inn is small and looks clean. The foyer was a small counter and two small tables, which were supposed to be a temporary resting place for guests, and there was no one at this time.

Su Jinyao came in and asked for a room to live in. The house is not big, but fortunately it is clean and tidy. The guy in the store also said that one (rì) three meals can be delivered to the customer.

Because after walking for such a day, although holding an umbrella was inevitably windy, Su Jinyao's clothes were also slightly wet, and a pair of shoes were even more wet inside.

Su Jinyao asked the guy to wash her up, and asked her to bring dinner directly to the house.

When everything was cleaned up, Su Jinyao was eating dinner when she heard the guy beckoning someone to live next door to Su Jinyao.

Su Jinyao's mind moved, and she felt uneasy inexplicably. She put down her chopsticks and walked to the door to look out through the crack in the door.

But he saw that the man led a tall (shēn) man over, but he did not see the face, only the broad back of the man. But looking at this back, it's definitely not someone I know.

Su Jinyao took a breath and felt that it was a bit of a fuss. So he sat back and ate peacefully, ignoring whether there was anyone outside again.

And after that, until Su Jinyao was ready to go to bed, she didn't hear any other guests coming in.

Su Jinyao turned off the lights, plugged in the latch, and prepared to sleep. But she had just lay down when she heard a burst of music.

The music is a bit monotonous, a monosyllabic ditty. However, the sound was very crisp and pleasant, like the tinkling sound of a pearl falling on a jade plate, and like the sound of a stream crashing against a pebble.

And what Su Jinyao cares about is that this music is not like ordinary strings played, but like ...... The sound of a music box.

That's right, it's the sound of a music box. When the mainspring is full, the shrapnel in the music box automatically rings the bell knob of the roller, resulting in a staggered tune.

The knobs of the rollers are positioned differently and can make different tunes.

Su Jinyao sat up from (chuáng), listened quietly with her hands on her cheeks, and felt interesting and familiar.

The sound of the music box "ding dong" is intermittent, sometimes after a whole piece is played, sometimes it stops in the middle of the music and then starts again.

It sounds like the guy fiddling with the music box, constantly tuning the tone. It wasn't until late at night that a complete and accurate tune was played, and the music box never sounded again.

Su Jinyao also unconsciously heard it late at night, and when the surroundings were completely silent, she was already sleepy.

At this time, her mind kept recalling all kinds of things in the past, thinking of Gu Xuebin, and also thinking of Gu Shangqing, Qiu Ying, and Xiuning.

"Why does it seem like I'm going farther and farther? Is it true that you can't go back? Su Jinyao couldn't help but murmur to herself.

For the first time in the past month, she felt lonely, as if she didn't know where the things she gave up were gone.

Gifts from next door

After sitting quietly all night, Su Jinyao finally understood that the reason why she chose to leave in the first place was that she still had a trace of hesitation and uneasiness.

She hadn't faced up to this little thought hidden in her heart before, and it wasn't until now that she thought about everything (qíng) over the years that she realized that she was insecure.

She has never had a sense (qíng), but after suddenly having everything that makes her feel good, she will inevitably suffer from gains and losses in the future, and she always doubts the profundity and sincerity of this feeling (qíng).

So before getting Gu Xuebin's confirmation, she didn't even dare to ask him how he would choose, so she ran away as a deserter.

And my eyes may really store too much loneliness, so the more I go on, the more lonely I become.

But in the past month, there has been no good or bad news, which is what really confuses Su Jinyao.

She doesn't know shēn, but she seems to have escaped from all the human worlds in the past.

No one is looking for it, and a person is at ease, but after a long time, it is inevitable that he will be eager to be found and valued.

This...... Is it a work? When Su Jinyao came up with this thought, she was startled.

She had never been interested in reading Chicken Soup for the Soul before, but she had also heard the saying "the deeper (ài) is, the harder you do".

Only to those who like and (ài) to sprinkle (jiāo), to those who do not care will be polite. Has she thrown herself into the ranks of such ordinary little women?

Thinking of this, Su Jinyao couldn't help but purse her lips and smile, feeling that her other self seemed to be a little clown-like.

"Forget it, I shouldn't be idle for too long, there are still a lot of things (qíng) that I need to do." Su Jinyao patted her head, rubbed her face vigorously, and then turned (shēn) wrapped the quilt and prepared to sleep.

She hadn't slept all night, and she didn't have anything to worry about anyway, so she was going to make up for sleep.

I fell asleep all of a sudden, maybe because I figured it out in my heart, so I was safe.

When I got up again, it was close to noon. It's still a (yīn) day, but the rain has stopped early.

There was no sound in the small inn, and the guests who invested in the store yesterday should have left early, probably only idlers like her still had the heart to sleep back.

Su Jinyao (shēn) prepares to have breakfast and plans where to go next.

It's not a good thing to be idle for too long, so Su Jinyao thought about finding something to do for herself.

It's just that as soon as she opened the door, she was about to call the innkeeper when she unexpectedly found a wooden box on the ground at the door.

The wooden box was placed squarely at the door of her room, and it should have been placed here on purpose.

Su Jinyao was suddenly alert, frowned and wanted to call the guy over. But out of the corner of his eye, he saw that there was a paper slip pressed under the wooden box. It's just that the paper stick is too small and pressed deeply, so she didn't pay attention to it just now.

Su Jinyao casually pulled out the Luan Feng cone, straightened her arm and pushed the box a little away with the Luan Feng cone, and then pulled the paper stick over.

Everything was safe and sound, and she picked up the paper slip to read. Meeting is a short dozen words: the fate of the same accommodation, the friend who understands the sound, and the gift of the sound box.

After reading it, Su Jinyao immediately turned her head to look next door, then walked over and knocked lightly on the door.

No one in the house responded, but the knock on the door alarmed the guy at the inn, who ran over to take a look and said, "Childe, the guest officer next door left early in the morning." ”

Su Jinyao asked again: "Then did he leave anything behind?" ”

"Nope." The guy asked in surprise, "Childe knows that guest officer?" ”

Su Jinyao shook her head and said casually, "Oh, I don't know." I listened to him play the piano yesterday and wanted to ask him what kind of music he played. ”

"The guest officer still has the piano with him?" The guy looked dazed and said, "I didn't hear any piano sounds." ”

"I'm not sure if it's a piano or what, but there is a sound anyway, and the sound is still (tǐng) good. But there's not much movement, and it's just audible next door. After Su Jinyao finished speaking, she was afraid that the guy would ask questions, so she said, "Please make me a bowl of wontons in the kitchen." Add a little chili oil to the soup. ”

"Hey, okay." When the man heard that there was an errand, he didn't ask, and hurriedly turned (shēn) and went to the kitchen.

Su Jinyao Hui (shēn) looked at the wooden box on the ground, and after reading the paper stick, she already knew that this was the music box that sounded last night. But why did the guest transfer it to himself?

Su Jinyao walked over and touched the wooden box with her toes, although it was not big but very heavy, it should be the relationship between the machinery inside and the clockwork.

She squatted (shēn) again, picked up the lid of the box with the luan phoenix cone in her hand, and just halfway up, there was a soft sound of music.

Su Jinyao reached out and took the music box, lifted the lid, and saw that the clockwork inside was rotating continuously, and made a crisp and pleasant sound. That tune was the one I heard last night.

It rang for a quarter of an hour before the music box stopped. Su Jinyao reached out and tightened the clockwork again, and the crisp voice sounded again.

Although I don't know why the guest next door gave such a gift, Su Jinyao did find it funny.

After fiddling with it for a while, Su Jinyao put away the music box.

The guy also happened to bring the wontons and sent them over.

Su Jinyao took out a piece of broken silver and put it on the table, and said, "Please settle the bill with the shopkeeper, you don't need to look for the change." ”

The man saw that the piece of silver was about a penny, and he quickly nodded with a smile and said, "Childe wants a way?" I'll ask the kitchen to bake you two flatbreads and eat them along the way. ”

"Thank you." Su Jinyao asked again: "Then do you know how far Xiyue Prefecture is from here?" ”

"Yo, that's a bit far. There's a state in between. After the man finished speaking, he thought about it again and said, "However, it is fast to take the waterway." From our inn, there is a ferry port along the main road to the southwest, and after half a day by boat, we arrive at the mouth of the river and change to a big boat. The big ship walked for three days and arrived at the boundary of Xiyuezhou. As for where you are going to Xiyue Prefecture, Childe, please inquire again. ”

Su Jinyao asked again: "I don't know how many trips the boat has a day?" Or is it a charter boat that goes as you go? ”

The guy said, "Everything." There are two ferries in total, one boat departs early, and comes back at the mouth of the river in the afternoon, exactly one round trip a day. The charter boat can go at any time. ”

"Okay, thank you." After Su Jinyao finished speaking, she hurriedly ate wontons. Calculating the time, if you charter a boat, you should be able to reach the mouth of the river today.

The guy also immediately turned (shēn), saying that he was going to the kitchen to ask the cook to make Su Jinyao a flatbread.

When Su Jinyao finished eating the wontons, the guy really came back with an oiled paper bag. Put it on the table and said: "Childe, two (rè) scallion pancakes, oil and salt, the taste is enough, you can eat without vegetables." ”

Su Jinyao took it and put it in the bag containing the music box, said "thank you" again, and wanted to go out.

The guy hurriedly stopped Su Jinyao again and said, "Childe, your umbrella." ”

Charters

As soon as Su Jinyao turned around, the guy had already handed over the oil-paper umbrella and said, "Childe, there is no time for the rain in winter, take an umbrella and don't let the rain get wet." ”

Su Jinyao swept it casually, and saw that the earth-colored umbrella surface had returned to its original plainness, and the vivid and interesting painting was gone. It can be seen that the painting is really because of the rain.

This umbrella is special, but it's a pity to lose it, Su Jinyao also reached out to take it, tucked it in the baggage, and carried it behind (shēn) together.

According to the path pointed out by the guy, Su Jinyao walked along the street, and sure enough, she heard the sound of water. Then I turned around an earthen wall and saw a small crossing.

At this time, it was already noon, and only one small boat was seen at the ferry, and it was estimated that the other boat was almost at the mouth of the river.

Su Jinyao didn't see the ferryman, but when she saw a small hut not far in front, she stood at the ferry and shouted, "Which ferry?" I'm going to charter a boat. ”

"Here we are." Ying Sheng came out of the hut was a fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl, a pair of jet-black pigtails hanging down her ears, a (shēn) blue cloth and cotton pants, looking ordinary but exuding a spicy look.

Su Jinyao asked, "Girl, I want to go to Jiangkou to change to a big boat, how did this boat be packaged?" ”

The girl said, "Thirty-five chartered boats, half a day's work has arrived." My family has been supporting this ferry for generations to ensure safety. ”

After speaking, she glanced at the sky again and said, "But this time is more expensive than usual." Because it was dark on the other side of the river, I couldn't come back directly, so I had to stay overnight. Even the effort of eating, lodging and delaying costs ten dollars. ”

Su Jinyao nodded and said, "Then I'm going to go now, forty-four-five-five." ”

"Okay, you wait, I'll take the oars." After the girl finished speaking, she went back and carried a pair of oars. Put the oars in place and push the boat into the water.

Su Jinyao asked, "Girl, are you going to hold the boat?" ”

"yes." The girl shook her braids and asked with a smile: "Little brother, don't you believe in my skills, or do you look down on me as a girl?" ”

Su Jinyao hurriedly waved her hand and said, "No, no, I just think that it takes half a day, girl, you are holding the boat alone, it's too hard." What's more, when you get there, it gets dark and you can't come back, and it's not safe for you to stay alone. ”

"It's fine. I followed my dad when I was six years old, and I've been holding the boat for almost 10 years now. And I can't walk or swim anymore, and I'm safe in the water and on land. If there is really something, I will drag you to swim, and you can swim to the mouth of the river. ”

After speaking, the girl said "bah" twice, spit twice, and said, "Look at my mouth, and say these unpleasant things." But I'm telling the truth, don't worry, little brother. ”

Su Jinyao smiled, nodded, and said, "Okay, then I'll charter a boat and set off now." ”

The girl saw Su Jinyao talking so neatly, and said, "Come, take a hand, push the boat and jump over, so that I can save some effort." ”

"Okay." Su Jinyao did not refuse. He put the burden and oil-paper umbrella on the boat, and pushed the boat hard with the girl.

The boat was half on the shore and half in the water, so it only pushed into the water.

The girl was anxious and said, "Hurry, don't get your shoes wet." ”

Su Jinyao jumped easily and jumped out of the boat. He also took the girl by the hand and pulled her to the boat.

The two of them were seated in the boat, and the girl began rowing. While paddling, the girl stared at Su Jinyao, and then asked with a smile, "Why are your hands so thin and soft?" You're so good-looking. ”

Su Jinyao knew that it should be when she reached out to pull her just now, so that this girl noticed the flaw, so she put her hair down, showed her a look, and said, "Actually, I'm also a daughter (shēn)." So, I was really just worried, and I didn't mean to look down on you. ”

The girl who was holding the boat smiled and said, "It's not easy for you to walk so far alone as a girl's lonely family (shēn). I believe you, you don't look down on me, because you yourself are capable. ”

After saying that, both of them laughed.

The girl said, "My name is Shui Ling." My father and mother are looking forward to me being bright and clear. But look at me like this, I am blown by the wind (rì) by the water all day long, my face is rough, my skin is dark, my hands are calloused, and I don't have the slightest bit of water. ”

Su Jinyao said with a smile while re-tying her hair, "My name is Su Jinyao." I see that you (xìng) are cheerful, generous-minded, and have a spirit in your eyes, which are more precious to those (jiāo) soft and spiritual girls. ”

"Haha, you're really good at talking." Shui Ling's laughter was also hearty, and he continued: "If I didn't know that you were a woman, I would have pretended to be you in my mind." You are handsome, your mouth is sweet, and fortunately you are not a man, otherwise, how many girls would be sad. ”

In this way, the two girls sat in a boat, one holding the boat, and the other looked at the not wide river and the surrounding scenery, but they also talked happily.

The boat had been gone for about an hour, and another ship came across from it. The one they were sitting in was larger, and there were only four people in the boat and the boatman.